IMPROVING FORAGE AND BIOENERGY CROPS FOR BETTER ADAPTATION, RESILIENCE, AND FLEXIBILITY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1013341
• Multistate No.: NE-1710
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2017
• Project End Date: Dec 23, 2020
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ITHACA,NY 14853

Performing Department
Plant Breeding

Non Technical Summary
Forage crops are the foundation of livestock and dairy enterprises in North America. Breeding of these crops has resulted in improved cultivars that make livestock, dairy, and energy production more economical by reducing inputs and increasing outputs. Because there are fewforage scientists, and forage cultivars need to be widely adapted to be economical for seed production and marketing, cooperative research is essential for continuing to improve these crops to enhance economic viability of farm operations.New alfalfa germplasm will be improved for various traits. Birdsfoot trefoil will be identified with components that control parasitic nematodes that reduce milk production. Diseases on switchgrass will be identified and resistant cultivars developed. New populations of forage species will be evaluated for yield to determine adaptation. Data will be available to extension educators,farmers, other scientists, and the seed industry.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

100%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
202	1640	1080	35%
212	1620	1080	10%
201	1641	1081	20%
201	1621	1081	35%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1620 - Warm season perennial grasses; 1640 - Alfalfa; 1621 - Cool season perennial grasses; 1641 - Trefoil;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

forage

alfalfa

switchgrass

birdsfoot trefoil

diseases

genotype x environment interaction

Goals / Objectives
Developing broadly adapted, climate resilient forages for sustainable cropping systems. Understanding genotype by environment interactions across multiple forage species

Project Methods
Efforts:Obj. 1.1 Alfalfa from the National Plant Germplasm System will be used to create regional germplasm pools. In NY we will establish spaced-plant nurseries in the field with four germplasm pools adapted to the North. In the second production year, plants will be selected for plant vigor, disease and insect resistance, and other agronomic traits. The selected plants will be transplanted to pots in the greenhouse to produce seed within each of the four populations. Seed from all participating locations will be increased to establish forage yield trails at multiple locations, including NY.Obj. 1.2 We will participate in this sub objective, which will be led by the G. Bergstrom lab at Cornell, to determine pathogen diversity and develop switchgrass germplasm with resistance to the diseases caused by these pathogens. We will monitor our breeding nurseries and other research fields for various diseases, particularly rust (Puccinia emaculata and Uromyces graminicola), anthracnose (Colletotrichum navitas), Bipolaris leaf spot, and head smut (Tilletia species). Half-sib progenies and cultivars will be evaluated visually for disease severity at various times of the growing season. More research will be done by the Bergstrom lab to identify and quantify specific host-pathogen relationships. In our breeding program, we will select resistant plants to develop germplasm with higher levels of resistance to various diseases.Obj. 1.4 We will participate in assessing the varied profiles and contents of isoflavones in birdsfoot trefoil across diverse climates in the northern latitudes of the USA and Canada. These isoflavones are bioactive components that control parasitic nematodes that reduce milk production in cows. In NY we will establish a replicated plot trial with several cultivars and elite experimental populations of trefoil. In two production years, the plots will be assessed for plant development stage and forage yield. In addition, forage will be sampled from each plot and flash frozen, freeze dried and sent to Nova Scotia where they will be analyzed for isoflavones.Obj.2 New York will be one of multiple locations where replicated, small plot trials will be established in the field to evaluate cultivars and experimental populations of multiple, perennial forage species (grasses and legumes) for forage yield. These trials will be done to provide information about genotype by environmental interactions in these forage species. Data of forage yield and plant stand will be collected for three or four harvests during each of three production years beyond the establishment year. Forage quality also will be determined, and notes will be taken on biotic and abiotic stresses.Evaluated:Interest from the seed industry in acquiring our new cultivars is the most immediate indicator of use, followed by the more direct measure of the quantity of seed actually sold to (and used by) producers. These data are obtained from the seed companies annually. Seedway, Inc., which is located in NY, has acquired forage cultivars from the Cornell Forage Breeding Project for four decades. Testimonials from seed company representatives, extension educators, and growers provide qualitative information about the success of our cultivars.

Progress 10/01/17 to 12/23/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, NY. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. Due to COVID-19, a session was not held in 2020. We meet annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York (NY) is participating in developing broadly adapted, climate resilient alfalfa germplasm pools. NY was one of several locations where plant introductions (PIs) from various parts of the world were established in the field in 2016. Data were collected in 2017 through 2019, followed by selecting plants based on plant vigor and freedom from disease symptoms and insect damage. Seed of these plants were produced in a greenhouse during the winter of 2019-20 to produce four germplasm pools. An additional cycle of selection is planned to further enhance the germplasm pools. Additional PIs were established in a space plant nursery in 2018 to select plants in the future. Development of alfalfa germplasm for general adaptation will be useful for breeding programs to create superior cultivars from new genetic material. The goal is to make the enhanced germplasm pools available to alfalfa scientists through the National Plant Germplasm System, accessible through the Germplasm Resources Information Network. Data on this nursery were collected during 2020. Selection is continuing for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Among other locations, NY established a birdsfoot trefoil plot trial in 2019 to provide forage to assess the varied profiles and contents of isoflavones in various cultivars and experimental populations. These isoflavones are bioactive components that control parasitic nematodes that reduce milk production in dairy cows. Forage samples were collected for analyses in 2020 and will be collected again during 2021. Forage yield evaluations were established for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. A uniform yield trial of tall fescue cultivars and experimental populations was established in 2019 to study genotype X environmental variationin future production years. Yield data were collected in 2020 and will continue for the next two production years.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Sutherland, J., R. Crawford, R. Trexler, C. Tkach, T. Bell, S. Bonos, M. Hall, J. Hansen, J. Lasky, D. Viands, and J. Carlson. 2020. Breeding for resilient, disease-resistant switchgrass cultivars for marginal lands. Genome Sci. Program PIs Ann. Meeting. Washington, D.C. 24-26 February 2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Sutherland, Jeremy, Ryan Crawford, Ryan Trexler, Christopher Tkach, Terrence Bell, Stacy Bonos, Marvin Hall, Julie Hansen, Jesse Lasky, Donald Viands, and John Carlson. 2020. The Future of Bioenergy and Biorenewables Workshop, The Nittany Lion Inn, State College, Pennsylvania, November 10, 2020 (poster presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Tkach, C., J. Sutherland, S. Bonos, J. E. Carlson, T. H. Bell, J. R. Lasky, J. L. Hansen, R. V. Crawford, and D. Viands. 2020. Analysis of anthracnose disease in an association panel of switchgrass on marginal land. In agronomy abstracts ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meeting Nov 7, 2020 (Talk at Virtual Meeting).

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, NY. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. Due to COVID-19, a session was not held in 2020. We meet annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York (NY) is participating in developing broadly adapted, climate resilient alfalfa germplasm pools. New York was one of several locations where plant introductions (PIs) from various parts of the world were established in the field in 2016. Data were collected in 2017 through 2019, followed by selecting plants based on plant vigor and freedom from disease symptoms and insect damage. Seed of these plants were produced in a greenhouse during the winter of 2019-20 to produce four germplasm pools. An additional cycle of selection is planned to further enhance the germplasm pools. Additional PIs were established in a space plant nursery in 2018 to select plants in the future. Development of alfalfa germplasm for general adaptation will be useful for breeding programs to create superior cultivars from new genetic material. The goal is to make the enhanced germplasm pools available to alfalfa scientists through the National Plant Germplasm System, accessible through the Germplasm Resources Information Network. Data on this nursery were collected during 2020. Selection is continuing for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Among other locations, NY established a birdsfoot trefoil plot trial in 2019 to provide forage to assess the varied profiles and contents of isoflavones in various cultivars and experimental populations. These isoflavones are bioactive components that control parasitic nematodes that reduce milk production in dairy cows. Forage samples were collected for analyses in 2020 and will be collected again during 2021. Forage yield evaluations were established for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. A uniform yield trial of tall fescue cultivars and experimental populations was established in 2019 to study G x E in future production years. Yield data were collected in 2020 and will continue for the next two production years.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Sutherland, J., R. Crawford, R. Trexler, C. Tkach, T. Bell, S. Bonos, M. Hall, J. Hansen, J. Lasky, D. Viands, and J. Carlson. 2020. Breeding for resilient, disease-resistant switchgrass cultivars for marginal lands. Genome Sci. Program PIs Ann. Meeting. Washington, D.C. 24-26 February 2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Sutherland, Jeremy, Ryan Crawford, Ryan Trexler, Christopher Tkach, Terrence Bell, Stacy Bonos, Marvin Hall, Julie Hansen, Jesse Lasky, Donald Viands, and John Carlson. 2020. The Future of Bioenergy and Biorenewables Workshop, The Nittany Lion Inn, State College, Pennsylvania, November 10, 2020 (poster presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Tkach, C., J. Sutherland, S. Bonos, J. E. Carlson, T. H. Bell, J. R. Lasky, J. L. Hansen, R. V. Crawford, and D. Viands. 2020. Analysis of anthracnose disease in an association panel of switchgrass on marginal land. In agronomy abstracts ASA, CSSA, SSSA Annual Meeting Nov 7, 2020 (Talk at Virtual Meeting).

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks; Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, New York. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. We meet at least once annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York is participating in developing broadly adapted, climate resilient alfalfa germplasm pools. New York was one of several locations where plant introductions (PIs) from various parts of the world were established in the field in 2016. Data were collected in 2017 and 2018, followed by selecting plants based on plant vigor and freedom from disease symptoms and insect damage. Seed of these plants will be produced in a greenhouse during the winter of 2019-20 to produce four germplasm pools. Additional cycles of selection are planned to further enhance the germplasm pools. Additional PIs were established in a space plant nursery in 2018 to select plants in the future. Development of alfalfa germplasm for general adaptation will be useful for breeding programs to develop superior cultivars from new genetic material. The goal is to make the enhanced germplasm pools available to alfalfa scientists through the National Plant Germplasm System, accessible through the Germplasm Resources Information Network. Research results on developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass has been approved for publication. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. Research results showed progress from selection for resistance to seed rot when seeds are inoculated with the disease organism, but selection for resistance to leafspot after inoculating leaves of seedlings has not resulted in higher levels of resistance. Selection also is continuing for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Among other locations, New York established a birdsfoot trefoil plot trial in 2019 to provide forage to assess the varied profiles and contents of isoflavones in various cultivars and experimental populations. These isoflavones are bioactive components that control parasitic nematodes that reduce milk production in dairy cows. Forage samples will be collected and analyzed during the next two years. Forage yield evaluations were established for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. A uniform yield trial of tall fescue was established in 2019 to study G x E in future production years.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Brummer, E.C., X. Li, Y. Wei, J. Hansen, and D.R. Viands. 2019. The imperative of improving yield of perennial forage crops: will genomic selection help? Eucarpia. Zurich.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Carlson, J., T. Bell, S. Bonos, M. Hall, J. Hansen, J. Lasky, and D. Viands. 2019. Breeding resilient, disease-resistant switchgrass cultivars for marginal lands. USDA-DOE Bioenergy Feedstocks PI meeting. 25-26 February 2019, Washington, DC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Crawford, R., J. Crawford, J. Hansen, D. Viands, and B. Richards. 2019. Effect of soil moisture on yield and quality of fertilized and unfertilized switchgrass plots in a field with a soil moisture gradient. Poster presented at: Switchgrass V International Conf., Champaign, Illinois, 22-25 July 2019.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kumar, Pardeep, Martin Leonardo Battaglia, Vance Owens, John Fike, John Galbraith, Chang Oh Hong, Rondney Faris, Ryan Crawford, Jamie Crawford, Julie Hansen, Hilary Mayton, Donald Viands, and Liming Lai. 2019. Impacts of nitrogen fertilization rate and landscape position on select soil properties in switchgrass field at four sites in the USA. CATENA 180:183-193.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Mayton. H., M. Amirkhani, M. Loos, J. Crawford, R. Crawford, J. Hansen, D. Viands, P. Salon, and A. Taylor. 2019. Evaluation of switchgrass genotypes for cold-tolerant seed germination from native populations in the Northeast USA. Plants 8(10):394. (13 pages)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Richards, B., R. Crawford, S. Das, C. Mason, C. Stoof, S. Pacenka, J. Hansen, J. Crawford, T. Steenhuis, and D. Viands. 2019. Perennial grass feedstock production on wetness-prone marginal soils in New York. Switchgrass V International Conf., Champaign, Illinois, 22-25 July 2019. 10.13140/RG.2.2.21798.27208.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Songsomboon, C., R. Crawford, J. Crawford, J. Hansen, J. Cummings, N. Mattson, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2019. Recurrent phenotypic selection for resistance to diseases caused by Bipolaris oryzae in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Biomass and Bioenergy. In press.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Forage producers for improved cultivars; Seed industry who produce and market seed of improved cultivars; Biofuels industry; Extension educators for field tours and extension talks; Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A field tour of forage breeding research is offered annually in July in Ithaca, NY. Extension educators, seed producers, and seed company personnel attend. A session on forage breeding occurs annually at the in-service extension educator training in November. We meet at least once annually with seed companies interested in new forage cultivars from our program. This meeting is a presentation of research results and feedback from the seed companies regarding needs for future research. Yield data of forage cultivars are available on the web for extension educators, farmers, and others to compare cultivar performances. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New York is participating in developing broadly adapted, climate resilient alfalfa germplasm pools. New York was one of several locations where plant introductions (PIs) from various parts of the world were established in the field in 2016. Data were collected in 2017 and 2018, followed by selecting plants based on plant vigor and freedom from disease symptoms and insect damage. Seed of these plants will be produced in a greenhouse during the winter of 2019 to produce four germplasm pools. Additional PIs were established in a space plant nursery in 2018 to select plants in the future. Additional cycles of selection are planned to further enhance the germplasm pools. Development of alfalfa germplasm for general adaptation will be useful for breeding programs to develop superior cultivars from new genetic material. The goal is to make the enhanced germplasm pools available to alfalfa scientists through the National Plant Germplasm System, accessible through the Germplasm Resources Information Network. Research continued for developing resistance to Bipolaris seed rot and leafspot in switchgrass. This disease inhibits maximum production of switchgrass for biofuel and livestock use. Research results showed progress from selection for resistance to seed rot when seeds are inoculated with the disease organism, but selection for resistance to leafspot after inoculating leaves of seedlings has not resulted in higher levels of resistance. Selection also is being done for switchgrass seed germination under cold temperatures and for biomass production. Forage yield evaluations were established for new cultivars and experimental populations of forage legumes and cool season grasses developed by forage breeders. Yield data of new forage cultivars are made available on the web to producers, extension educators, forage breeders, seed companies, etc. Work is underway to access seed of various perennial forage species to establish uniform yield trials at multiple locations in North America for studying genotype by environmental interactions.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kumar, Pardeep, Martin Leonardo Battaglia, Vance Owens, John Fike, John Galbraith, Chang Oh Hong, Rondney Farris, Ryan Crawford, Jamie Crawford, Julie Hansen, Hilary Mayton, Donald Viands, and Liming Lai. 2019. Impacts of nitrogen fertilization rate and landscape position on select soil properties in switchgrass field at four sites in the USA. Geoderma Regional.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Songsomboon, C., R. Crawford, J. Crawford, J. Hansen, J. Cummings, N. Mattson, G. Bergstrom, and D. Viands. 2019. Recurrent phenotypic selection for resistance to diseases caused by Bipolaris oryzae in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Biomass and Bioenergy.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Songsomboon K., D.R. Viands, N.S. Mattson, and G.C. Bergstrom. 2018. Silicon amendment for control of Bipolaris leaf spot and seed rot of upland switchgrass, 2017. Plant Dis. Manag. Rep. 12:ST001. Online publication. doi:10.1094/PDMR12
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Lee, DoKyoung; Aberle, Ezra; Anderson, Eric; Anderson, William; Baldwin, Brian; Baltensperger, David; Barrett, Michael; Bonos, Stacy; Bouton, Joe; Brummer, Charlie; Burks, Payne; Chen, Chengci; Daly, christopher; Egenolf, Josh; Farris, Rodney; Fike, John; Gaussoin, Roch; Gill, John; Gravois, Kenneth; Halbleib, Michael; Hale , Anna; Hanna, Wayne; Harmoney, Keith; Heaton, Emily; Heiniger, Ron; Hoffman, Lindsey; Hong, Chang; Kakani, Vijaya Gopal; Kallenbach, Robert; Macoon, Bisoodat; Medly, James; Missaoui, Ali; Mitchell, Robert; Moore, Ken; Morrison, Jesse; Odvody, Gary; Ogoshi, Richard; Parrish, Jimmy; Quinn, Lauren; Richard, Ed; Rooney , Bill; Rushing, Brett; Schnell, Ronnie; Sousek, Matt; Staggenborg, Scott; Tew, Thomas; Uehara, Goro; Viands, Donald; Voigt, Thomas; Williams, David; Williams, Linda; Wilson, Lloyd; Wycislo, Andrew; Yang, Yubin; Owens, Vance. 2018. Biomass production of herbaceous energy crops in the United States: field trial results and yield potential maps from the multiyear regional feedstock partnership. GCB Bioenergy 10:698-716.